Electric current distributor



2.37 v 23a 239 MT ($17 228 y 1941- H. VON TAVEL 2,243,269

v ELECTRIC CURRENT DISTRIBUTOR Filed July 22, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 23s 203 v 2a 225\ 241 252 ava W2 257i 277 246T 2ss 256i 276 2 Mrmtan- May 27, 1941. H. V ON TAVEL ELECTRIC CURRENT DISTRIBUTOR Filed July 22, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 w awgw May 27, 1941.

Filed July 22, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 w W W W? IIII 3 8 5- 7 7 minus 7 g 2737. 0'

E F D Patented May 27, 1941 ELECTRIC CURRENT DISTRIBUTOR Iiespcr von Tayel, Soleure, Switzerland, assignor to Scintilla Ltd., Soleure, Switzerland, a corporation of Switzerland Application July 22, .1939, Serial No. 286,045 In Switzerland July 22, 1938 9 Claims.

The present invention relates to an electric current distributor and more particularly to an ignition current distributor for internal combustion engines. The distributor is connected to an incoming conductor through which it is supplied with timed current impulses, and to a plurality of outgoing conductors, and the function of the distributor is to direct the said current impulses in turn to each one of the said outgoing conductors. The distributors of the type on which the invention is an improvement comprise a plurality of supply electrodes electrically connected with each other and with the incoming conductor, a plurality of leading-out electrodes insulated from each other and connected each with one of the said outgoing conductors, and a distributing member which rotates in timed relation with the occurrence of the said current impulses and which carries a distributing conductor so as to connect in turn each one of the said leading-out electrodes to one of the said supply electrodes, at the time at which the said current impulses occur.

In ignition apparatus for internal combustion engines, the function of the distributor is to complete in turn circuits each including the source of the current impulses and a spark plug.

At the moments at which the current impulses are supplied to the distributor, the incoming conductor is at high potential for a short period. With the current generators provided as a source of current impulses, in the usual ignition apparatus, the incoming conductor remains at a substantial though much lower residual potential between the short periods in which it is at high potential. This residual potential tends to maintain current flowing through the distributor even in the interval between the high potential current impulses.

.In the distributor, each current impulse finds its way from the incoming conductor to a supply electrode and thence to a distributing conductor, and from the latter across a small air gap to a leading-out electrode. It leaves the distributor through the outgoing conductor connected to the last-mentioned leading-out electrode. In the said air gap, it creates an electric arc. After the passage of the high potential current impulse, the current produced by the residual potential tends to go the same way, maintaining this electric arc. It is a secondary, though important, function of the distributor to ensure extinction of this arc, to prevent misleading of the subsequent high potential current impulse. This result is brought about by increasing the said air gap while the distributing member proceeds in its rotation.

In known distributors of the type characterised above, the same distributing conductor after having connected a first leading-out electrode to a supply electrode, for one first period of high potential, connects a neighbouring second leading-out electrode to a supply electrode for the subsequent period of high potential. The are built up under high potential during the first said period, and subsequently maintained at the lower potential between the distributing conductor and the first leading-out electrode produces a bridge of ionised air which extends from the said first leading-out electrode to the place occupied by the distributing conductor at the time of the rupture of the arc, which place may be quite near to the second electrode. It is known that ionised air ofi'ers materially diminished resistance to the passage of electric current. Thus, at the time when the said second period of high potential begins, the conductivity of the air gap between the distributing conductor and the first leading-out electrode, which air gap includes the path of ionised air, may be as good as the concluctivity of the air gap between the distributing conductor and the second electrode, although the latter air gap is made as short as possible. This may have the undesirable result that in the second period of high potential the resulting current impulse reaches the first leading-out electrode instead of the second one. The distributors of ignition devices for aircraft engines having a great number of cylinders and working at high altitude are particularly liable to such misleading of current because their leading-out electrodes are at a short distance from each other and because they work in an atmosphere or" cornparatively high conductivity.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a distributor suitable for distributing current impulses to a comparatively great number of outgoing conductors.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a distributor of small overall dimensions.

A further object of the invention is to provide a distributor adapted for working reliably in an atmosphere of comparatively high conductivity.

With these general statements of the objects and purposes of the invention it will now be pro ceeded to the description of some embodiments of the invention and of the manner in which the invention is carried out, and it will be understood that while the description relates to what may be considered as preferable embodiments of the invention, the invention is not limited to the precise conditions, proportions, or number of members herein set forth, as they may be varied by those slrilled in the art in accordance with the particular purposes for which they are intended, and the conditions under which they are to be utilised.

In the accompanying drawings- Fig. 1 is a diagram showing generally the ignition installation of an internal combustion engine.

Fig. 2 shows, in a diametral section on line A-. or" Fig. 3, the distributor of the ignition installation shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross-section on line B--B of Fig. 2, through the same distributor.

Fig. 4 shows another distributor in a diametral section.

Fig. 5 is the development of a section taken on a cylinder (DC, through the distributor shown in Fig. i.

Fig. 6 represents a third distributor in a dianietral section on the line DD of Fig. 7 and 7 is a cross-section on line E-E of Fig. 6.

The ignition installation diagrammatically represented in Fig. 1 has a primary circuit comprising the primary winding l of an ignition coil, one end of which is earthed at 2 by connection to the metallic parts of the internal combustion engine. The opposite end 3 of the winding l is connected through a spring i to a contact lever 55 which is mounted on a pivot 8, but electrically insulated therefrom. The contact ever carries a contact i which co-operates with a stationary contact 3. The latter has a connection 9 to the earth 2, so that the described primary circuit is closed when the contacts 1 rest on the stationary contact 8. The spring 4 tends to press the contact lever 5 into this circuit closing position. The contact lever 5 carries a linger iii of insulating material. A condenser H is also provided in the primary circuit with its armatures connected to both ends 2 and 3 of the winding l.

The internal combustion engine drives, in a way not shown in the drawings, a contact breaker and distributor shaft I2. The gear ratio between the crankshaft of the engine and the distributor shaft is such that the latter does one revolution in each working cycle of the internal combustion engine, 1. e. for two revolutions of the engine crankshaft in the case of four-stroke engines. The shaft i2 carries a contact breaker cam 53 having as many notches as the ignition installation comprises spark plugs, eighteen in the present instance. The cam l3 co-operates with the finger IQ of the contact lever 5, the arrangement being such that each time when a crest of the cam it meets the finger ill the contact l on the contact lever is lifted from the stationary contact 8, whereby the primary cirsuit is interrupted.

Means not shown in the drawings are provided for producing an alternating magnetic flux in the core of the winding I, whereby a current is developed in the primary circuit before each one of its interruptions.

A secondary winding is. having a great number of turns is connected at 3 to the primary circuit, this winding being wound on the same core (not shown) as the primary winding 1. The opposite end of the secondary winding 14 is connected to the incoming cable 46 of the distributor.

When the current developed in the primary circuit is interrupted by the contact 1 parting from the stationary contact 8, this results in an abrupt change of the magnetic flux passing through the core of the two windings l and it. Because of the high number of turns of the secondary winding it, this change of flux causes a sudden rise of potential in the cable 56.

The device thus far described is a magnetoelectric current generator as commonly used for ignition purposes and forms no part of the invention. It is preferably enclosed in a metallic housing, which is indicated by the reference number l5 in Figs. 2 and 3.

Although the conducting parts of the distributor have also been shown in Fig. l, which shows the electric connections of tl e distributor to the other parts of the ignition installation, Figs. 2 and 3 will now preferably be referred to. The bottom piece ll (Fig. 2) of the distributor is made from insulating material; the latter encloses a, metal ring Ill, an extension IQ of which is connected to the end of the incoming cable [6. At its outer edge, the metal ring l8 has equidistant teeth iiiii, ESL-63 which project from the insulating material and which constitute the supply electrodes.

The cover piece 2| of the distributor is made from insulating material and centered on the bottom piece it. The pieces 2i and Il are clamped together and fastened to the housing l5 by stud bolts 42.

Leading-out electrodes ZZi-Efiil and 231-239 consisting each of a piece of metal are mounted on the inside face of the cover piece 2|. The electrodes 22i-229 are disposed on a circle of larger diameter and the electrodes 23l239 on a circle of smaller diameter. 011 each of these circles the leading-out electrodes are equidistant and their number is equal to the number of the supply electrodes Zili-Zilil. The electrodes 22i229 are situated in the same radial plane as the supply electrodes 20 i2rl9, while the electrodes i3|239 are set off in relation thereto by one-half of their angular interval.

The electrodes 22 i-229 and 23l239 are connected each to one of the insulated outgoing ignition cables 241-149 and 25l258, by pointed screws 26. The point of each screw traverses the insulation and the core of the cable and holds the latter in place in lodgings provided within the cover piece 2|. Each one of the outgoing cables 24l2 i9 and ZEN-259 is connected to one electrode of a spark plug tfil-ZEQ and 271-219 of the internal combustion engine as indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 1. The opposite electrodes of the spark plugs are connected back to cart terminal '2 of the current generator, by connection to the metal parts of the engine as diagrammatically indicated at 2B and 29.

A two-armed distributing member 38 made from insulating material rotates in the space into which the supply electrodes 2lli-209 and the leading-out electrodes 22l229 and 23|239 project. This member is mounted on the shaft l2, above referred to, and secured thereto by a nut 3i and a key 32.

The distributing member 36 carries two distributing conductors 33 and 34. They are insulated from each other, and only their tips 35, 35, 37: and 38 project into the air surrounding the distributing member. The tips 35 and 36 of the distributing conductor 33 both are in the same radial plane through the axis of rotation of the distributing member 3E]. The tip 35 is placed so as to pass at a small distance from each of the supply electrodes 20l-209 in turn while the distributing member rotates. Similarly, the tip 36 is placed so as to pass close to the leading-out electrodes 2'2l228. When the tip 35 faces one of the supply electrodes e. g. 20!, the tip 36 faces the corresponding leading-out electrode, e. g. 22l. The tip 31 of the conductor 34 passes in front of the supply electrodes 20l-209 as does the tip 35 of the conductor 33, but these tips are 180 apart from each other. The tip 38 of the conductor 34 is placed so as to pass in front of the leading-out electrodes 23l-239 of the other set. Relatively to the tip 31, the tip 38 is set off by the angle by which the electrodes 23 I-239 are set off against the supply electrodes 20I209, i. e. by one half of the angular interval between the electrodes 22 I229. Thus, when the tip 31 of the conductor 34 faces a supply electrode, e. g. 205, the tip 38 faces the corresponding leading-out electrode, e. g. 235. The moments at which potential is high in the cable I6 coincide with each of the moments at which either the tip 35 of the distributing conductor 33 or the tip 31 of the distributing conductor 34 faces one of the supply electrodes 20l209.

A circular rib or rim 40 of insulating material is formed on the bottom piece I1 at its joint 4| with the cover piece 2|. The air path through the joint 4|, from any one of the supply electrodes 20I-209 or of the distributing tips 35 and 31 to the stud bolts 42, is longer than it would be without this rib. The rib 40 thus helps preventing the current from jumping over to the said stud bolts when the conductivity of the air is high due to its ionisation and low density.

Another insulating rib 43, of tubular shape, also formed on the bottom piece I! prevents direct passage of current through the air, from the supply electrodes 20I209 and the distributing tips 35 and 31 to the distributor shaft I2.

The distributing member 30 has a tubular extension 44 into which the end of the shaft l2 and the nut 3| are sunk. This extension 44 opposes the discharge of current from the distributing tip 38 to the shaft l2 and nut 3|.

To prevent the passage of current from the distributing tip 36 to the leading-out electrodes 23l-239 and from the distributing tip 38 to the leading-out electrodes 22i229, a further circular rib 45 is formed on the inside face of the cover piece 2|.

In Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings the parts are shown in the position when the tip 35 faces the electrode 20! and the tip 36 faces the leading-out electrode 221.

At the moment at which the parts occupy this position, the contact lever 5 is actuated by a crest of the cam l3, so that the primary circuit is interrupted by the contacts 1 and 8 being separated. This results in a temporary rise of potential in the cable l6.

This rise of potential then creates a current impulse which flows from the cable 16 through the extension I9 to the ring l8 and thence jumps from the electrode 20! to the tip 35 of the distributing conductor 33. Through the latter, the current impulse flows to the tip 36 and then jumps to the leading-out electrode 22 I. Thence, it returns to the current generator through the leading-out cable 24!, the spark plug 2! where it produces the igniting spark, and through the earth conduit 28.

In the gaps between the supply electrode 20I and the tip 35, and between the tip 36 and the leading-out electrode 22] the air becomes ionised and arcs are produced by the passing current.

In creating the current impulse, the potential in the cable l6 drops to a value which is much lower than its previous high value, but which is still higher than the potential of the metal parts of the engine. As the shaft l2 and the distributing member 30 proceed in their anti-clockwise rotation in the direction indicated by the arrow 45 in Fig. 3, the air gaps increase between the supply electrode 20| and the tip 35, and between the tip 36 and the leading-out electrode 22l. While the length of the said air gaps increases and in spite of the drop of potential in the cable i6, current continues to flow across these air gaps because the air in the latter has become a com paratively goodconductor due to its ionisation. The arcs bridging these air gaps only break off when their added lengths have reached a rather considerable value. In breaking off, the arcs leave the air in a highly ionised state in the air gaps between the supply electrode 20i and the place occupied by the tip 35 at the time of rupture of the arc, and between the leading-out electrode 221 and the place occupied by the tip 36 at the said time.

In the further course of rotation of the shaft I2 the tip 31 of the distributing conductor 34 faces the supply electrode 206. At the same time, the tip 38 of the same distributing conductor faces the leading-out electrode 236. At that time also, the potential in the cable 16 is again suddenly increased by the generator, so as to deliver a new current impulse through the distribtor. This current impulse should pass from the supply electrode 206, which it reaches through the ring l8 and its extension l8, to the tip 31 of the distributing conductor 34, and from the tip 38 of the latter, to the leading-out electrode 236.

While this current impulse is developed, the distributing conductor 33 is in the position indicated in dash-and-dot lines in Fig. 3. Its tip 35 occupies the position indicated by 35l, at a distance g from the supply electrode 20L The tip 36 is in the position indicated by 325i, and is at a distance 71 from the leading-out electrode 22l. It can readily be seen that the passage of the current impulse to the leading-out electrode 22I is not only opposed by an air gap of the width h between the tip 36 and the electrode 22I, but also by an additional air gap of the width g between the supply electrode Eill and the tip 35 of the distributing conductor 33. The combined length of these two air gaps makes up for the comparatively high degree of ionisation of the air in them. Thus, their resulting conductivity is lower than that of the shorter gaps of less ionised air between the stu ply electrode 206 and the tip 31 of the distributing conductor 34, and between the tip 38 of the latter and the leading-out electrode 2526. Consequently, the current impulse goes to the leading-out electrode 236 as desired, and is not misled to the electrode 22] which was supplied with the previous current impulse.

It will now be explained how, on the other hand, misleading of the current impulse is prevented when the distributor member 30 is in the position represented in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. The current impulse preceding the attainment of this position has passed from the supply electrode 205 to the tip v31 of the distributing conductor 34 and from the tip 30 of the latter to the leading-out electrode 235. Although the potential of the cable rapidly drops to a lower value, current continues for some time to flow through the said air gaps while the conductor 34 moves towards the position shown in the drawings. But finally the combined length of the air gaps becomes sufficient for preventing the passage of current, in spite of the ionised condition of the air in them. At the moment in which high potential is again supplied to the incoming cable !6 of the distributor, not only is the tip 38 at a distance f from the leading-out electrode 235, but the tip 3'! is also at a distance e from the supply electrode 265. On account of their combined width e+y, and in spite of the weak condition of the air in them, the gaps 295/3! and 38/235 hold good against the increased potential. The current impulse resulting from the latter goes from the supply electrode 2% to the leading-out electrode 22!, through the distributing conductor 33, as already described above. The subsequent current impulse is directed to the leading-out electrode 233, as already mentioned too. Then follows a current impulse to the leading-out electrode 222, and so on.

The distributor shown in Figs. 4 and 5 is provided for distributing current tofourteen spark plugs only while the distributor according to Figs. 1 to 3 is provided for eighteen spark plugs. The distributor according to Figs. 4 and 5 has otherwise quite the same functions as the distributor shown in Figs, 1 to 3. Therefore, the installation will no more be described as a whole, but only the distributor itself.

Supply electrodes 5t!5ti'i, leading-out electrodes 5! !5H, and leading-out electrodes 52!52'! are disposed on circles of equal diameter. The supply electrodes lit i5ii'i are formed as teeth of a ring l8! which is disposed within the dished bottom piece !'.i! of the distributor. The said electrodes extend inwardly from the ring I8! and project to the inside of the rim of the bottom piece iii.

The leading-out electrodes are carried by two semi-cylindrical pieces 53 and 54 which abut against each other on a diametral plane. A ring 55 connected by stud bolts 42! to the housing l5l of the generator rests On a shoulder of each of the pieces 53 and 5d and holds them against the bottom piece I?! and the latter against the housing !5!. Another ring 56 is centered on the bottom piece ii! and holds the pieces 53 and 54 against each other.

The piece 53 carries, on one level, the leadingout electrodes 5! I, 5l2 and 5H, and on another level, the leading out electrodes 52!, 522, 523 and 521. The remaining electrodes 5E3, 5l4, 5!5 and 5l6 on one level, and 524, 525 and 526 on the other level, are carried by the piece 54. Each one of the leading-out electrodes is integral with a conductor Edi-58? and 59!-59! provided Within the respective piece 53 or 5-1. These conductors end in metal blocks 365-456! and 6!!6l'! having each a hole into which the end of the corresponding one of the outgoing cables 24!-2d'i, and 25!25! is introduced.

These cables are secured and electrically connected to the blocks by pointed screws 26!, which traverse the insulation and the core of the cable. These screws are accessible from the outside of the distributor.

The distributing member 39! mounted on the shaft !2! is of substantially cylindrical shape. It carries distributing conductors 33! and 34!. The tips 35! of the conductor 33! and 37! of the conductor 34! travel past the supply electrodes Frill-501, the tip 36! of the conductor 33! travels past the leading-out electrodes 5! !5!'!, and the tip 38! of the conductor 34! travels past the leading-out electrodes 52!--52!. The tips 35! and 36E of the conductor 33i are in the same radial plane, the tip 38! is in the diametrically opposed plane, and the tip 37! is set ofi with respect to the latter by one half of the angular interval between two supply electrodes.

Ribs 62 and 63 extending into corresponding recesses of the distributing member 36! are formed on the inside of the pieces 53 and 54. The rib 62 separates the supply electrodes Sill-50! from the leading-out electrodes 52!-52'!, and the rib 63 separates both the latter electrodes from the distributing tip 36! and the leading-out electrodes 5l!--5!"! from the tip 38!. Pipes 64 of insulating material are also formed round the screws 26!, to separate them from each other. All these separating ribs or pipes, are disposed so as to prevent the passage of electric current, through the air, between the conducting parts which they separate from each other.

The distributor Works as that shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 and it is not necessary to describe its operation in detail. In Fig. 5, the distributing conductor 33! is indicated in the position for transmitting an impulse of current from the supply electrode 50! to the leading-oil electrode 5! I. The previous impulse of current transmitted has gone from the supply electrod 534 through the distributing conductor 34! to the leading-out electrode 524. The last impulse which passed through the conductor 33! went from the supply electrode 537 to the leading-out electrode 5!!.

At the moment under consideration, bridges of ionised air resulting from former arcs exist at m between the electrode 534 and the tip 3'!'! of the conductor 34!, and at n between the tip 38! of the conductor 34! and the leading-out electrode 524. Further such bridges are between the tip 35! (now facing the electrode 53!) and the supply electrode 501, and between the tip 36! (now facing the electrode 5!!) and the leading-out electrode 5H.

The bridge between the electrode 50'! and the tip 35! is of no effect because the electrode 50! faced by the said tip is connected to the electrode 50'! by th ring !8!. The air gaps at m and n have a combined width which is suflicient for preventing the passage of current in spite of the ionised condition of the air. The air gap between the tip 36! and the leading-out electrode 5i! also forms an obstacle to the passage of current because of its width, which substantially equals the combined width of the air gaps at m and n. It is apparent that the width of the air gap 36! /5!! and the total width of the air gaps at m and n nearly equals two times the circumference of the circle on which the electrodes are disposed, divided by the total number of leadingout electrodes.

The distributor represented in Figs. 6 and 7 is intended for an ignition installation comprising ten spark plugs, the general arrangement of the installation being again similar to that shown in Fig. 1, with the outgoing conductors or cables being, of course, in the number of ten only in accordance with the number of spark plugs.

As in Figs. 1 to 3, equidistant leading-out electrodes I! !'!!5 are arranged on an outer circle and similar electrodes 12 on an inner circle on the inner face of an insulating cover piece 2l2. The relative arrangement of the electrodes on the two circles differs from that of Fig. 1 to 3 in that in the present example both the leadingout electrodes HI-H5 on the outer circle and those, numbered 12 Il25 on the inner circle are in the same radial planes as the supply electrodes, 'HH705. These latter are formed as teeth on the outer circumference of a ring I82 moulded into the bottom piece H2, from which they project. The ring I82 is connected to the supply cable Iii by a strip I92 integral with the ring I82.

Each one of the leading-out electrodes II l--'| i 5 and I2 I-l25 is partly sunk into a socket BI-I35 and MI-M5, respectively, provided by the insulating material of the cover piece 2l2 and extending through the bottom of the latter. The sockets 131-435, into which the electrodes on the outer circle are sunk, are connected to each other by the rim 15 of the cover piece, while the sockets 14 !T45 into which the electrodes on the inner circle sunk are joined by a circular rib 16. The outgoing cables Nil-J65 and 1'H--'||5 of the distributor are connected to the spark plugs of the internal combustion engine, as are the cables 24|-249 and 251-459 in Fig. 1. The ends of all the cables are provided with metal caps 18 soldered to the core of the cable. The cables 15l I65 enter the sockets 'I3Il25. and the cables HF-115 the sockets Ml-M5 from outside the distributor cover H2, and they are maintained and connected to the corresponding leading-out electrodes. by means of screws 262 screwed into the caps 18.

The rotating distributor piece 302 consists of a hub I9, a disk 8!] and circular ribs 8| and 82 all made integral with each other from insulating material.

The disk 8 separates the supply electrodes 70I105 from the leading-out electrodes '|ll- H5 and 121-125. The rib ill encircles the supply electrodes HH'|05 and is high enough to prevent direct passage of the current from these electrodes to the leading-out electrodes H IH5 even when the surrounding air has reached comparatively high degree of conductivity on account of its ionisat on or low density. The rib 82 is provided on the opposite side of the disk 80 and extends into the circular recess between that portion of the sockets 'I3I-I35, on the outer side of the rib 82, and 'I4I145, on the inner side of the said rib. which extends to the inside of the cover piece U2 and which contains the caps 18 and screws 262 by which the leading-out electrodes are coupled. to the corresponding out-going cables.

The distributing conductors 332 and 342 are lodged at diametrically opposed places from each other in the rotating member 302, the arrangement of the r projecting tips bein as follows:

The tips 352 of the conductor 332 and the tips 3 2 of the conductor 342 project from th disk 80 at the. foot of the inner face of the circular r b M. The path of these tips when the member 3 2 rotates is along the supply electrodes 105. The opposite tip 312 of the conductor 33?. projects from the disk 80 on the outside the circular rib 82 and co-cperates with the leading-out e ectrode H l-'H5 on the outer circlt. The tip 382 of the conductor 342 also projects from the disk 89 of the rotating member 3122. but on the inside of the rib 82: it cooperates with the leadin -out electrodes 12 l|25.

The distributor in 6 and '7 works quite in the same way as that shown in 1 to 3. At the time at which the rotating memher 302 occupies its position shown in the figures, the current generator produces a rise of potential in the supply conduit 55. Current then passes from the supply ring I32 through the supply electrode 134, the distributing conductor 332 and the leading-out electrode H4. The preceding current impulse went through the supply electrode ml, the distributing conductor 342 and the leading-out electrode 125. At the moment under consideration, ionised air will therefore be found chiefly in the gaps between the supply electrode 161 and the tip 362 of the distributing conductor 342 and between the tip 382 and the leading-out electrode 72L As the current would have to cross both of these air gaps, Which are in series, they form an effective resistance against misleading of the current impulse intended to reach the leading-out electrode H4.

The subsequent current impulse has to go through the supply electrode 182, the distributing conductor 342 and the leading-out electrode 122. At that time, the distributing conductor 332 has its tip 352 half-way between the supply electrodes H34 and I05 and its tip 3'52 half-way between the leading-out electrodes H4 and H5. The total width of the air 134/352 and 312/1! containing freshly ionisated air this case also presents sufficient resistance for preventing the current impulse to reach the previously supplied electrode H4 instead of the electrode 122.

What I claim is:

1. Electric current distributor comprising in combination a plurality of spaced supply electrodes; insulated connections between the said supply electrodes; a plurality of leading-out electrodes insulated from each other; a rotary member; a plurality of distributing conductors carried by the said rotary member and each adapted to occupy distinctive positions in the course of the rotation of the said rotary member, which distinctive positions are characterized by the distributing conductor facing simultaneously one of the said supply electrodes and one of the said leading-out electrodes; and the several distributing conductors being insulated from each other and arranged in relation to the said rotary member so that in the course of the rotation of the latter they alternate in. occupying their said distinctive positions.

2. Electric current distributor comprising in combination a plurality of spaced supply electrodes; insulated connections between the said supply electrodes; a plurality of leading-out electrodes insulated from each other and arranged in at least two sets; a rotary member; a plurality of distributing conductors carried by the said rotary member and each adapted to occupy distinctive positions in the course of the rotation of the said rotary member, which distinctive positions are characterised by the distributing conductor facing simultaneously one of the said supply electrodes and one of the leading-out elcc trodes arranged in a definite one of the said sets; and the several distributing conductors being insulated from each other and arranged in relation to the said rotary member so that in the course of the rotation of the latter they alternate in occupying their said distinctive positions.

3. Electric current distributor comprising in combination a plurality of spaced supply elec trodes; insulated connections between the sai supply electrodes; a plurality of leading-cut electrodes insulated from each other a rotary memher; a plurality of distributing conductors carried by the said rotary member and each adapted to occupy distinctive positions in the course of the rotation of the said rotary member, which distinctive positions are characterised by the distributing conductor facing simultaneously one of the said supply electrodes and one of the said leading-out electrodes; and the several distributing conductors being insulated from each other and arranged in relation to the said rotary member so that in the course of the rotation of the latter they alternate in occupying their said distinctive positions, and that when one of the said distributing conductors occupies one of its said distinctive positions, all the other distributing conductors are displaced from all of their said distinctive positions.

4. Electric current distributor comprising in combination a plurality of spaced supply electrodes; insulated connections between the said supply electrodes, a plurality of leading-out electrodes insulated from each other and arranged in at least two sets; a rotary member, a plurality of distributing conductors carried by the said rotary member and each adapted to occupy distinctive positions in the course of the rotation of the said rotary member, which distinctive positions are characterized by the distributing conductor facing simultaneously one of the said supply electrodes and one of the leading-out electrodes arranged in a definite one of said sets; the several distributing conductors being insulated from each other and arranged in relation to the said rotary member so that in the course of the rotation of the latter they alternate in occupying their said distinctive positions; and a rib of insulating material extending into the air gap between the leading-out electrodes of one set and those of another set.

5. Electric current distributor comprising in combination a plurality of spaced supply electrodes; insulated connections between the said supply electrodes; a plurality of leading-out electrodes insulated from each other; a rotary member; a plurality of distributing conductors carr ried by the said rotary member and each adapted to occupy distinctive positions in the course of ac rotation of the said rotary member, which distinctive positions are characterized by the distributing conductor facing simultaneously one of the said supply electrodes and one of the said leading-out electrodes; the several distributing conductors being insulated from each other and arranged in relation to the said rotary member so that in the course of the rotation of the latter they alternate in occupying their said distinctive positions; and at least one rib of insulating material extending into the air gap between any supply electrode and any leading-out electrode.

6. Electric current distributor comprising in combination a plurality of spaced supply electrodes; insulated connections between the said supply electrodes; a plurality of leading-out electrodes insulated from each other and arranged in at least two sets; a rotary member; several pairs of distributing electrodes carried by the said rotary member in such arrangement that in the course of the rotation of the rotary member each pair of distributing electrodes is adapted to occupy distinctive positions in which simultaneously one electrode of the pair faces one of the said supply electrodes and the other electrode of the pair faces one of those leading-out electrodes which are arranged in a definite one of the said sets, and that in the course of the rotation of the rotary member the several pairs of distributing electrodes alternate in occupyingtheirsaid distinctive positions; an insulated electric connection between the two distributing electrodes of each pair; and the said rotary member having wall portions of insulating material extending into the air gaps between, on one side, the said supply electrodes and, on the other side, the said leading-out electrodes, and into the air gaps between, on one side, any one of the said distributing electrodes adapted to face the leading-out electrodes arranged in a definite one of the said sets and, on the other side, all the leading-out electrodes arranged in at least one other of the said sets.

7. Electric current distributor comprising in combination a cover piece; a plurality of leading-out electrodes mounted on said cover piece in at least two concentric circular sets and insulated from each other; means associated with each one of the said leading-out electrodes for connecting a conductor thereto; said cover piece providing lodgings for the said conductor connecting means and having at least one circular recess extending between the lodgings of such of the said conductor connecting means as are associated with the leading-out electrodes of different sets; a rotary member having at least one circular rib of insulating material extending into the gaps between the leading-out electrodes of two different sets and into the said recess between the lodgings of their associated conductor connecting means; distributing electrodes insulated from each other and carried by the said rotary member on different sides of its said rib in such arrangement that in the course of the rotation of the said rotary member each one of the said distributing electrodes faces in turn the several leading-out electrodes of a definite one of the said sets; at least one current supply conductor; and means effective in the course of the rotation of the said rotary member to connect alternately the several distributing electrodes to the said supply conductor.

3. A distributor for timed electrical impulses comprising in combination a circular series of supply electrodes spaced from each other and all having an impulse supply connection; at least two circular series of leading-out electrodes spaced and insulated from each other, said series being concentric with the series of supply electrodes and each series including a number of electrodes equal to the number of supply electrodes; an insulating rotor mounted to turn on an axis concentric with all said series of electrodes; and a plurality of distributing conductors one for each series of leading-out electrodes and each offering a bridging conducting path from electrodes of the supply series to electrodes of the corresponding leading-out series, said conductors being mounted in spaced relation in said rotor, the rotor housing the conductors except the extremities thereof, and the spacing being such relatively to the electrode spacing that the conductors become effective individually and successively in recurrent sequence and successive impulses are thereby delivered to successive leading-out electrodes selected in recurrent sequence from different series.

9. A distributor for timed electrical impulses comprising in combination a circular series of supply electrodes spaced from each other and all having an impulse supply connection; at least two circular series of leading-out electrodes spaced and insulated from each other, said series being concentric with the series of supply electrodes and each series including a. number of electrodes equal to the number of supply electrodes; an insulating rotor mounted to turn on an axis concentric with all said series of electrodes; a plurality 01' distributing conductors one for each series of leading-out electrodes and each ofiering a bridging conducting path from electrodes of the supply series to electrodes of the corrwponding leading-out series, said conductors being mounted in spaced relation in said rotor, the rotor housing the conductors except the ex- 

